Flexible knitting needle



Dec. 2l, 1937. L M M|| R FLEXIBLE KNITTING NEEDLE Filed Jan. 27; 1937 li'llan M. .J @f7-f7 mmnumm Patented Dec. 21, 1937- ,UNITED -STATESPATENT oFFicE FLEXIBLE KNITTING 'NEEDLE Lillian M. Miller, FortHarrison, Mont. Application January 27, 1937, Serial No. 122,633

2 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel flexible knittingneedle; to provide a needle having a hooked end whereby it can be usedfor either knitting or crocheting, and. to provide a 5 novel swiveljoint in a knitting needle of this type. I attain these and otherobjects of my invention by the mechanism l illustrated in .theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention l in use;

Fig. 2 is a view of the hooked needle, vpartly in side elevation andpartly in longitudinal section,

`a portion of the needle being broken away to save space; l

15 Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of members e and f;

Fig. 4 is a detaill longitudinal section of member d;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of 2d Fig. z

Like characters of reference 'designate like parts in each of theseveral views.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, I provide a rigid, round-pointedshaft a resembling 2 5 the usual knitting pin to which is attached anexible element c such as a cable or chain.

`The new and novel part of this device is in the rigid end shaft b whichbears the hook i, resembling a crocheting hook and in the swivel joint80 \between core e and tube d, having its end h spaced from the innerside of the chamber i. The hook i is used to manipulate the thread'oryarn Y. In doing this it is desirable to rotate needleb on its long axisindependently of the 85 flexible shaft c. The round-pointed shaft b hasa cylindrical chamber i, as shown in Fig. 2 and into which is fittedimmovably lthe cylindrical tube d.4 The round shaft or core e fitssnugly but movably into the tube d; the member 40 e is prevented fromslipping out of the tube d by the enlargement of the button or-head f onits end, winch is disposed and spaced between end h. and the inner endof chamber j; the outside diameter of head f being larger than the 45inside diameter of tube d.- Shaft or corev e is fastened firmly to theflexible shaft c at its outer end. 'Ihus the rotatable needle b and thetube d are fixed immovably together and rotate easily andsmoothly ontheir long axis around core e.

,5 As the head f is fixed securely to' the core e, the

head f engages theehd h of the tube d and prevents the parts from beingpulled apart but does not prevent a smooth and easy rotation of theneedle b and its tube d around the core e.

55 In assembling these parts core e and shaft c (ci. ca -111) Y arefastened rmly andstrongly together; tube d is slipped over the core eand then the button or head f is fixed on or fastened to the free end ofcore e. Needle b and tube d are then xed together either by friction orby other means such as 5 glue G, if this is thought necessary ordesirable. Inl Fig, 1 the method of using this apparatus is shown, abail of yarn B, a strand of yarn Y to be knitted and completed or partlycompleted knitted material'K. l0

In the ordinary method of knitting two plain points are used and theyarn is thrown over and xmanipulated with the fingers. In this methodand in using this apparatus, the yarn is manipu lated with a hook as incrocheting, and the .tiresome throwing-over of the yarn eliminated.

A swivel `joint is desirable on the hook-bearing needle as it must betwisted on its long axis independently of the rest of. the apparatus.This type of knitting needle is for use in knitting cylindrical articlesas skirts, etc.

'This device can be adapted for the purpose of both crocheting andknitting and since the knitting or crocheting continues in an endlesscircle, no shifting of the material is necessary. A swivel joint in theneedle permits the lneedle to'be turned or twisted as required in theknitting process.

What I claim is.:l

1.'In a flexible knitting needle the combina- 30 tion of a knitting pin,a flexible shaft aiiixed to the shank of said pin, a second knittingpin, said pin having a hollow chamber, a tube inserted in and amxed tosaid chamber and having its inner end spaced from the inner end of thechamber, a core aiiixed to the flexible shaft and rotatably mounted inthe aforesaid tube, said core having a head of greater diameter than thecore and engaging against the end of the aforesaid tube within theknitting needle whereby to 40 provide a fiexible joint.

2. In a flexible vknitting needle, the combination of a knitting pin, aflexible shaft aiilxed to the shank of said pin, a second knitting pin,said pin having a hollow chamber,'a tube inserted in 45 and affixed tosaid chamber and having its inner end spaced from the inner end of thechamber, a core affixed to the flexible shaft and rotatably mounted inthe aforesaid tube, said core having a head of greater diameter than thecore and engaging against the end of the aforesaid tube within theknitting needle whereby to provide a flexible joint, said knittingneedle having a crochet hookend.

' LILLIAN M. MILLER. 55

